Rental checklist approved

Comment

By Scott Brand

Sault Ste. Marie Evening News - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

By Scott Brand

Posted Dec. 4, 2012 at 3:00 PM

By Scott Brand
Posted Dec. 4, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault landlords will face new regulation and the increased potential for fees in 2013 as the Sault Ste. Marie City Commission amended its rental registration ordinance, creating a self-certification checklist on a 6-1 vote Monday evening. Commissioner Ray Bauer provided the lone opposition.

The checklist system appears to be a compromise between those who wished to have an inspection program for all rental properties and those who were opposed to any additional regulation.

Under the new ordinance, all landlords will be required to complete a checklist confirming their individual properties meet approximately 30 minimum requirements for health and safety. While the property owners are self-policing during the initial inspection, they risk a $100 fee for each violation — capped at $1,000 — in the event that a follow-up city inspection finds noncompliance.

The ordinance also assess a $500 fee should the city be forced to get a search warrant to inspect any individual property.

The measure was not well received by area landlords.

“I don’t have a big problem with your checklist,” said Pat Cleary. “I do have a problem with someone calling (city officials) to say something is broke without calling us first.”

Cleary argued that tenants who fall behind in their rent may use the system in an effort to avoid paying their rent.

Stephanie Sabatine, echoed those sentiments — saying that landlords cannot be responsible for problems caused by their tenants.

“You have bad tenants and bad landlords,” pointed out Gary Soriano in making his arguments against the new ordinance.

Soriano was especially concerned that he would suddenly be on the hook for a $100 fee in the event that someone raided one of the functioning smoke detectors to get a battery for their television’s remote control.

Noting there were a lot of old houses in the city, Bob Markstrom said property owners can run into great difficulty for even trying to make improvements due to old wiring, lead-based paint and asbestos. Markstrom said the commission should be looking to bring in outside funding — through grants or other mechanisms — to help bring the structures up to code.

Ken Demaray said he was opposed to having the checklist strictly for rental properties, explaining that it was redundant due to the regulations that were already in place. Demaray argued that if the city was going to go this system, it should apply to all housing and not just rental units.

Landlords were not universal, however, in their opposition with Nancy Steinhaus saying she supported the program, noting there are different regulations for cooking a meal for your family and cooking for customers in making her argument.

“Ninety-nine percent of the landlords are in it to make money; we’re not a charity,” said Steinhaus making the case that the regulations were needed. “I’m very much in favor of this action.”

Page 2 of 2 - Commissioner Don Gerrie seemingly expressed the opinion of the majority, saying the checklist wouldn’t change the risk for the landlord and fees would only be assessed in the event of a violation.

“I see this as a very common-sense approach,” said Gerrie. “It’s a good step in improving the housing stock.”

The commission extended the 2013 deadline for completion of rental registration forms to the last day in March, to give property owners extra time to complete the documents and bring their properties into compliance.